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Tuesday, December 2, 2014

My Vegan Adventure

My transition into veganism was almost an unknowing one. I was
vegetarian for five years and in those five years I began cutting other
harmful animal products out of my diet. First, I stopped buying cows
milk because I had never liked the way it tasted, though I still
consumed food that had dairy as an ingredient. Then went eggs, which
where a huge childhood favorite of mine. Eventually, I wasn't that far
from becoming vegan but I hadn't really given it much thought.

The turning point for my veganism was watching Forks Over Knives. The
film not only effected me from a health stand point but opened me up to a
whole new dimension of animal suffering that I wasn't really aware of.
Though they don't go deeply into animal rights in Forks Over Knives it
was enough to pull the wool (vegan, of course) from my eyes. After that,
there really wasn't any going back.

I went vegan with a fierce determination and I wanted to devour any and
all research or information I could surrounding it. Everything I read or
watched from that point on was adding a piece to the vegan puzzle. One
that sticks out in my mind is "Vegan for Life" by Jack Norris, RD and
Virginia Messina, MPH, RD. It really breaks down how to be a healthy
vegan for the longterm. I really suggest it to anyone who is already
vegan or considering it.

The social backlash of my going vegan was minor. Since my husband and I
became vegan together, there was an instant support system and sounding
board. Of course, over the years comments have been made socially, but I
try to meet them with logic and understanding. One of the great things
about being the only vegan in your family is that you can really see how
your lifestyle effects them over time. My husband and mine's family
have taken a closer look at how they eat and where their food comes
from, which is a huge step in the right direction.

I have now been vegan for almost three years and it is one of the best
decisions I have ever made. One of the things I love the most about
being vegan is the community that it creates. When it seems like you
live in a world that flies in the face of almost everything you believe
in and want for the world, it's really important to have a community of
people that share the same values. That understand you. Whether it's in
person or online, I think it's very important to have that support as a
vegan.

I try to make a better world for animals through living a vegan
lifestyle and animal activism. I do my best to spread the word about
animal cruelties that are happening around the world and informing
people about how their food gets to their plate. Everyday I want to be a
living example of how easy and important it is to live a cruelty free
life.

I'm really looking forward to continuing my vegan adventure through this
blog and I hope you enjoy it.